Oops! Almost forgot to answer your question about the BAHA.
I decided to get one because I couldn't stand being SSD. Yes, I know, lots of AN patients adjust and they do just fine, but I wasn't one of them. I had a hard time adjusting from day one and couldn't wait to do something about my SSD. In fact, I was asking my neurotologist as soon as I was conscious post op, and could comprehend the fact that half my hearing was gone, what he could do to "fix" this problem. When I finally tried the BAHA demo I couldn't schedule the surgery soon enough - my insurance company had other ideas of course, so I spent 5 months fighting with them before they approved it.
I found that SSD made me very grouchy and it wasn't one of those post-op issues that got better over time - like my balance or the intense fatigue. I also realized the day my insurance company approved my BAHA surgery that being SSD was actually making me very depressed. The day I heard the words "yes, we'll pay for the surgery and the processor" you would have thought I'd won millions in the lottery. I was on cloud nine!
![Grin ;D](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/grin.gif)
Pre-BAHA I was tired of saying "What???" all the time. It frustrated me and it frustrated my children. Being SSD isn't a physical thing that others can see, so even though colleageues, family, friends, etc., knew my hearing was gone on my AN side, it didn't stop them from talking to me on that side. I got tired of always saying "I can't hear you" or "that's my bad ear". Having them ask "is this your good ear?" didn't thrill me either
![Tongue :P](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/tongue.gif)
Since I was only 45 1/2, and I hope to live a long, long life - at least another 45 1/2 years - I decided there was no reason to just live my life this way. I decided that if God wanted people to remain unilaterally deaf, he wouldn't have invented BAHAs.
Some people, my parents specifically, thought I was crazy to want to undergo another surgery. And truth be told, I originally agreed with them - until I found out that the BAHA surgery was so minor compared to the AN surgery. These same people also weren't too wild about the idea of a titanium post being inserted into my skull. They also weren't too wild about the drill that would make the hole in my skull for the post either
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/rolleyes.gif)
But I knew it was right for me and felt that if others had a problem with it then that was their problem, not mine.
The BAHA has been a huge help in situations where someone on my "bad" side is trying to hold a conservation with me. It's been a blessing in work situations where I now don't have to pretend I can hear what is being said. I found with out the BAHA that I bluffed a lot - you know, smiled, nodded - and I often got strange looks since my responses weren't always appropriate to the question being asked
![Wink ;)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/wink.gif)
One of my biggest pleasures with the BAHA is being able to hear the bank teller at the drive-thru when she speaks to me. I also no longer have to turn my entire body to hear sounds on my left side. which thrills me to death.
The BAHA isn't perfect - and it's not like having your normal hearing back again. Like most hearing aids, it doesn't work well in noisy, crowded rooms. It also doesn't give sounds directionality - but at least now I can hear the sounds.
Jan